Abstract
In recent years the problem of reliable power supply in the Soviet economy has grown acute. This is due to many reasons: high rates of power-consumption growth, the ageing of equipment of the operating power stations, a slow down in introducing new capacity, inadequate construction of the power-supply network, and ecological difficulties involved in the establishing of power plants. The solution of these problems in the new environment is complicated by the fact that power engineering has to carry the brunt of the changes that are to take place in the structure of energy production in the Soviet Union.
The analysis has shown that in the years to come it is essential to increase the rate of construction of power plants and to accelerate the introduction of combined facilities using natural gas, and advanced technologies of burning coal, especially low grade coal, at such stations. The scope of involvement of nuclear energy and low-grade coal in the power balance, and the rates of power-consumption growth in the country in general and in its basic regions are not equal. This is bound to raise the role of the Unified Power system of the USSR which will have to meet a big challenge: to adjust itself to structural changes in the country's power balance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.